Exhibition Closing Discussion—Collecting Jewelry: Conversations with the Artists Cody Sanderson (Navajo), Connie Tsosie Gaussoin ( Picuris Pueblo/Navajo) and Liz Wallace (Maidu/Washoe/Navajo)

Collecting Jewelry showcases 160 pieces of jewelry made between 1880-1930 that Dr. Mera gathered. These pieces were made with rudimentary tools and without available references for style and technique, formed the basis of Navajo/Diné silversmithing, and inspired the generations that followed.

 Cody Sanderson (Navajo) is known for his imaginative, often playful style. He began making jewelry in 1999, learning his craft by experimenting, asking questions of other jewelers, and taking classes to learn new techniques such as tufa casting. Utilizing the fast-disappearing technique of hand-forging and integrating them with CAD and 3D printing, Cody is combining traditional methods with modern technology and bringing his designs to the 21st century.

Connie Tsosie Gaussoin (Picuris Pueblo/Navajo) has won many awards over the years for the quality of her work. Her family and clan traditions provide a basis for the design and development of her jewelry. The traditional and contemporary jewelry Connie creates represents her interpretations of her diverse background.   Liz Wallace (Maidu/Washoe/Navajo) began making jewelry as a child, learning from her mother. Her father taught her how to work with turquoise, and her silver and turquoise jewelry boosted her career into high gear. Over the years her repertoire has grown as Liz continues to experiment with new ideas and forms. Her repertoire now includes not only silver and turquoise, but also includes Plique a Jour, an art nouveau technique that had always fascinated her.

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Image: Courtsey of Kitty Leaken